Lesson 15-17 - Digestive System Flashcards
digestive system
organ system that processes food, extracts nutrients, and eliminates residue
five stages of digestion
- ingestion
- digestion
- absorption
- compaction
- defecation
five stages of digestion: ingestion
selective intake of food
five stages of digestion: digestion
mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into a form usable by the body
five stages of digestion: absorption
uptake of nutrient molecules into the epithelial cells of the digestive tract and then into blood and lymph
five stages of digestion: compaction
absorbing water and consolidating the indigestible residue into feces
five stages of digestion: defecation
elimination of feces
mechanical digestion
the physical breakdown of food into smaller particles
three processes of mechanical digestion
- cutting and grinding action of the teeth
- churning action of the stomach and small intestines
- the above exposes more food surface to digestive enzymes
chemical digestion
a series of hydrolysis reactions that breaks dietary macromolecules into their monomers
how is chemical digestion carried out?
by digestive enzymes produced by salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and the small intestine
digestive enzymes break down polysaccharides into…
monosaccharides
digestive enzymes break down proteins into…
amino acids
digestive enzymes break down fats into…
monoglycerides and fatty acids
digestive enzymes break down nucleic acids into…
nucleotides
what happens to nutrients that are already in usable forms?
the are directly absorbed without being digested
nutrients that can be directly absorbed (5)
- vitamins
- amino acids
- minerals
- cholesterol
- water
the digestive system has two subdivisions
- digestive (alimentary) tract
- accessory organs
the digestive tract includes these structures (6)
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine
the gastrointestinal tract refers to…(2)
the stomach and intestines
accessory organs of the digestive system include (6)
teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas
four layers of the digestive tract
- mucosa
- submucosa
- muscularis externa
- serosa
four layers of the digestive tract: mucosa (3)
the innermost layer comprised of epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae
four layers of the digestive tract: muscularis externa (2)
an inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle
the epithelial layer of the digestive mucosa consists mostly of what cell type?
simple columnar
in the epithelial layer of the mouth through the esophagus and in the lower anal canal, what cell type is there?
stratified squamous
lamina propria of the digestive tract
a loose connective tissue layer found between the epithelium and muscularis mucosae
muscularis mucosae
a thin layer of smooth muscle that tenses the mucosa, creating grooves and ridges that enhance surface area contact with food
what is the purpose of the muscularis mucosae?
it improves the efficiency of digestion and nutrient absorption
mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)
lymphocytes and lymph nodules of the digestive tract
submucosa
thick layer of loose connective tissue
the MALT extends into the _____ in some parts of the GI tract
submucosae
the submucosa contains…(3)
- blood vessels
- lymphatic vessels
- a nerve plexus
in some places of the submucosa, there are _____-_____ glands that dump lubricating _____ into the lumen
mucus-secreting, mucus
in some places, which layer of the muscularis externa thickens to form valves (sphincters)? what do they do?
inner circular smooth muscles; regulate the passage of material through the tract
what is responsible for the motility that propels food and residue through the digestive tract?
the muscularis externa
the serosa is composed of…(2)
a thin layer of areolar tissue topped by simple squamous mesothelium
where does the serosa being? where does it end?
beings 3-4cm of the esophagus and ends just before the rectum
some organs have no serosa but are surrounded by the _____
adventitia
adventitia
fibrous connective tissue layer that binds and blends adjacent organs
where can you find the adventitia? (3)
the pharynx, most of the esophagus, and the rectum
enteric plexus
nervous network that regulated digestive tract motility, secretion, and blood flow
where is the enteric plexus? (3)
- esophagus
- stomach
- intestines
the enteric plexus can/cannot function independently of the CNS
can; but the CNS usually exerts influence on its action
the enteric plexus is composed of two neuronal networks
- submucosal plexus
- myenteric plexus
submucosal plexus (2)
controls glandular secretions of the mucosa, and movements of the muscularis mucosae
where is the submucosal plexus found?
submucosa
myenteric plexus
ganglia and nerve fibers that control peristalsis and other contractions of the muscularis externa
where is the myenteric plexus found?
between the two layers of the muscularis externa
the enteric plexus includes sensory neurons that monitor…
tension in the gut wall and conditions in the lumen
the enteric plexus is often considered part of what section of the nervous system?
autonomic nervous system
mesentery
connective tissue sheet that suspends the stomach and intestines from the abdominal wall
the looseness of the mesentery allows for…
the stomach and intestines to undergo strenuous contractions with freedom of movement in the abdominal cavity
the mesentery prevents the intestines from…
becoming twisted and tangled by changes in body position and by its own contractions
the mesentery holds…
the viscera in proper relationship to each other
the mesentery provides a passage for…
blood vessels and nerves that supply the digestive tract
the mesentery contains many….(2)
lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels
depending on their relationship to the mesentery, digestive organs are…(3)
intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal
intraperitoneal
when and organ is enclosed by mesentery (serosa) on all sides
portions of the digestive tract that are intraperitoneal (8)
- stomach
- liver
- jejunum
- ileum
- appendix
- cecum
- transverse colon
- sigmoid colon
retroperitoneal
when an organ lies against the posterior body wall and is covered by peritoneum on its anterior side only
retroperitoneal organs are considered to be…
outside the peritoneal cavity
retroperitoneal organs of the digestive tract (5)
- duodenum
- pancreas
- ascending colon
- descending colon
- rectum
motility and secretion of the digestive tract are controlled by….(3)
neural, hormonal, and paracrine mechanisms
neural controls over the digestive tract (2)
- short (myenteric) reflexes
- long (vagovagal) reflexes
short (myenteric) reflexes (2)
- stretch or chemical stimulation acts through the myenteric
- stimulated peristaltic contractions of swallowingl
long (vagovagal) reflexes
- parasympathetic stimulation of digestive motility and secretion
examples of hormones that stimulate the digestive tract (2)
gastrin and secretin
hormones secreted into the blood stimulate _____ parts of the digestive tract
distant
paracrine secretions stimulate _____ target cells
nearby
the mouth is also known by these two other names
- oral cavity
- buccal cavity
functions of the mouth (7)
- ingestion
- taste/other sensory responses to food
- chewing/chemical digestion
- swallowing
- speech
- respiration
functions of the cheeks and lips of the mouth (3)
- retain food and push it between teeth
- involved in speech
- essential for sucking and blowing actions (including suckling for infants)
tongue
muscular, bulky, but agile and sensitive organ
functions of the tongue (2)
- manipulates food between teeth
- senses taste and texture of food
lingual papillae of the tongue
bumps and projections that are the sites of most taste buds
body of the tongue
anterior two-thirds of the tongue
what portion of the tongue occupies the oral cavity?
the body
root of the tongue
posterior third of the tongue
what portion of the tongue occupies the oropharynx?
the root
vallate papillae
a V-shaped row of papillae that mark the boundary between the body and root of the tongue
intrinsic muscles of the tongue
produce subtle tongue movements of speech
where are intrinsic muscles of the tongue found?
contained entirely within the tongue
extrinsic muscles of the tongue
produce stronger movements of food manipulation
lingual glands (2)
serous and mucous glands within the tongue; secrete a portion of the saliva
where are extrinsic muscles of the tongue found?
with attachments outside the tongue
where are lingual glands of the tongue found?
amid the extrinsic muscles
lingual tonsils of the tongue are located…
contained in the root
palate
separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity
what makes it possible to breathe while chewing food?
the palate
hard (bony) palate
anterior portion that is supported by the palatine processes of the maxillae and the palatine bones
the hard palate has….
palatine rugae
palatine rugae
transverse ridges that help the tongue hold and manipulate food
soft palate
posterior to the hard palate with more spongy texture
uvula
concial medial projection visible at the rear of the mouth
function of the uvula
helps retain food in the mouth until one is ready to swallow
the 32 adult teeth are referred to as…
dentition
functions of the dentition (3)
- break down food into smaller pieces
- make food easier to swallow
- expose more surface area for enzymes (speeding chemicial digestion)
mastication
chewing
what is the first step in mechanical digestion?
mastication
function of mastication (2)
breaks food into smaller pieces to be swallowed and expose more surface area to digestive enzymes
food within the mouth stimulates…
oral receptors that trigger an involuntary chewing reflex
what muscles elevate the lower teeth to crush food? (2)
- masseter
- temporalis
functions of saliva (6)
- moistens mouth
- begins starch and fat digestion
- cleanses teeth
- inhibits bacterial growth
- dissolves molecules so they can stimulate taste buds
- mositens foods and binds it together into a soft mass (bolus) to aid in swallowing
saliva contains the following solutes (6)
- mucus
- electrolytes
- lysozyme
- IgA
- salivary amylase
- lingual lipase
electrolytes found in saliva (5)
- Na+
- K+
- Cl-
- phosphate
- bicarbonate
what enzyme begins starch digestion in the mouth?
salivary amylase
what enzyme begins fat digestion in the mouth? (but mainly after the food is swallowed)
lingual lipase
two kinds of salivary glands
- intrinsic (minor) salivary glands
- extrinsic (major) salivary glands
intrinsic (minro) salivary glands
small glands dispersed amid other oral tissues that secrete saliva at a constant rate
extrinsic (major) salivary glands
three pairs of larger, more discrete organs connected to the oral cavity but ducts
the extrinsic salivary glands include…(3)
- parotid glands
- submandibular glands
- sublingual glands
where are the parotid glands located?
located beneath the skin anterior to the earlobe
where are the submandibular glands located?
located halfway along the body of the mandible
where are the sublingual glands located?
located in the floor of the mouth
the sublingual gland has multiple…
ducts that empty posterior to the papilla of the submandibular duct
about how much saliva do extrinsic salivary glands secrete in one day?
1-1.5L
the salivary nuclei in the _____ _____ and _____ respond to signals generated by the presence of food
medulla oblongata, pons
the salivary nuclei are excited by…(3)
tactile, pressure, and taste receptors
these three things can stimulate salivation
odor, site, or thought of food
how does the salivary nuclei send signals to glands?
by way of the autonomic fibers in the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves
parasympathetic fibers stimulate salivary glands to produce…
an abundance of thin, enzyme rich saliva
sympathetic fibers stimulate salivary glands to produce…
less, and thicker, saliva with more mucus
pharynx
muscular funnel connecting the oral cavity to the esophagus and the nasal cavity to the larynx
where do the digestive and respiratory tracts intersect?
the pharynx
the pharynx has a deep layer of…
longitudinal skeletal muscle
the pharynx has a superficial layer of circular skeletal muscles that form?
pharyngeal constrictors (superior, middle, and inferior)
what do the pharyngeal constrictors do?
force food downward during swallowing
upper esophageal sphincter
the inferior pharyngeal constrictor that excludes air from the esophagus
esophagus
straight muscular tube between the pharynx and the stomach
the esophagus extends from…
the pharynx to the cardiac orifice of the stomach before passing through the esophageal hiatus in the diaphragm
the lower esophageal sphincter is located..
at the inferior end of the esophagus
function of the lower esophageal sphincter (2)
- prevents stomach contents from regurgitating into the esophagus
- protects esophageal mucosa from erosive stomach acid
heartburn
burning sensation produced by acid reflux into the esophagus
deglutition
swallowing
deglutition is…
a complex action involving over 22 muscles in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus
deglutition is coordinated by the…
swallowing center
swallowing center
a pair of nuclei in the medulla oblongata
the swallowing center communicated with…
muscles of the pharynx and esophagus
swallowing occurs in three phases
- oral phase
- pharyngeal phase
- esophageal phase
swallowing: oral phase
the tongue forms a food bolus and pushes it into the laryngopharynx
where in the mouth does the food bolus accumulate?
in the oropharynx in front of the epiglottis
during the oral phase of swallowing, what happens with the epiglottis?
it tips posteriorly and the food bolus slides around it and into the laryngopharynx
swallowing: pharyngeal phase
the palate, tongue, vocal cords, and epiglottis block the oral and nasal cavities and airway while the pharyngeal constrictors push the colus into the esophagus
swallowing: esophageal phase
peristalsis drives the bolus downward and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter admits it into the stomach
how does peristalsis move the food bolus down the esophagus?
circular muscles constricts above the bolus and relaxes below it
what happens to food when you swallow when upright?
food and liquid drops through the esophagus by gravity faster than peristalsis can keep up with it
explain what movements occur during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing (3)
- muscle pull larynx to epiglottis and cover it
- vocal cords adduct/close to stop breathing
- the upper esophagus widens
esophageal peristalsis is controlled by…(2)
the swallowing center and the myenteric plexus
stomach
a muscular sac in the superior left abdominal cavity immediately inferior to the diaphragm
what is the primary function of the stomach?
a food storage organ
chyme
acidic, soupy mixture of semi-digested food that passes on to the small intestine
other functions of the stomach (3)
- mechanically breaks up food particles
- liquifies the food
- begins chemical digestion of proteins and fat
four portions of the stomach
- cardiac part
- fundic region (fundus)
- body
- pyloric part
stomach regions: cardiac part (2)
- small area within about 3cm of the cardiac orifice
- entry point of material from esophagus
stomach regions: fundic region (fundus)
dome superior to the esophageal attachment
stomach regions: body
makes up the greatest part distal to the cardiac orifice
stomach regions: pyloric part
narrower pouch at the inferior end
the pyloric part of the stomach is subdivided into… (3)
- funnel-like atrium
- narrower pyloric canal
- terminating at the pylorus
pylorus
narrow passage to duodenum
pyloric sphincter
ring of smooth muscle around the pylorus
function of the pyloric sphincter
regulates the passage of chyme into the duodenum
the stomach mucosa is covered with what cell type?
simple columnar epithelium
the apical regions of the stomach mucosa cells are filled with _____
mucin
mucin
swells with water and becomes mucus after it has been secreted
when the stomach is empty, the mucosa and submucosa form longitudinal wrinkles called _____ _____
gastric rugae
the muscularis externa of the stomach has three layers
- outer longitudinal layer
- middle circular layer
- inner oblique layer
mucous cells
secrete mucus
regenerative (stem) cells
divide rapidly and produce continual supply of new cells to replace cells that die
parietal cells (3)
secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl), intrinsic factor, and ghrelin during hunger
chief cells
secrete gastrin and pepsinogen
enteroendocrine cells
secrete hormones and paracrine messengers that regulate digestion
which glandular cell is most common?
chief cells
gastric pits
depressions in gastric mucosa, lined with the same columnar epithelium as the surface
gastric juice (3)
mainly a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin
how much gastric juice is produced per day?
2-3 L
functions of hydrochloric acid (3)
- activates pepsin and lingual lipase
- breaks up connective tissues and plant cell walls helping to liquify food and form chyme
- contributes to innate immunity by destroying most ingested pathogens
pepsin
digests dietary protein into shorter peptides
pepsin is released by _____ cells as the inactive form _____
chief, pepsinogen
zymogen
inactive until removal of some amino acids causes it to become active
hydrochloric acid from _____ cells converts pepsinogen to pepsin
parietal
autocatalytic effect of pepsin
as some pepsin is formed, it converts more pepsinogen into more pepsin
where is protein digestion started? where is it finished?
started in the stomach and completed in the small intestine
what two enzymes play a minor role in digesting dietary fats?
gastric and lingual lipase